Regenerator construction

ABSTRACT

An upright regenerator column has in its lower end portion a burner unit comprising an outlet unit formed with an annular series of apertures which communicate with the regions in the interior of the column above and below the unit and a distributor unit located at the lower end portion spaced from the outlet unit and having at least one distributor chamber each for a fuel-fluid and a combustion-supporting fluid, as well as conduits which communicate these chambers with respective ones of the apertures. The walls of the distributor unit are wholly or in part of a metallic jacket provided with a lining of tamped refractory material.

[ 1 REGENERATOR CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: Wilhelm .lakobi; Bernd Voges, both of Essen, Germany [73] Assignee: Heinrich Koppers Gmbl-l, Essen,

Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,808

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [451 Sept. 10,1974

4/1968 Pryor .l ..431/2s4 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Primary Examiner-John J. Camby Assistant Examiner-Henry C. Yuen Attorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker [5 7 ABSTRACT An upright regenerator column has in its lower end portion a burner unit comprising an outlet unit formed with an annular series of apertures which communicate with the regions in the interior of the column above and below the unit and a distributor unit located at the lower end portion spaced from the outlet unit and having at least one distributor chamber each for a fuel-fluid and a combustion-supporting fluid, as well as conduits which communicate these chambers with respective ones of the apertures. The walls of the distributor unit are wholly or in part of a metallic jacket provided with a lining of tamped refractory material.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBSHI 1w 3,834,864

SHEET 1 OF 2 U'UW/ REGENERATOR CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a regenerator construction, and more particularly to a regenerator construction having a ceramic burner unit.

Regenerators in blast furnaces and the like require burner units to provide the necessary heat. Such burner units are known in various different types of constructions, but common to them all is the fact that they are made in their entirety of refractory masonry walls which are located in the lower portion of the sheet metal-jacketed shaft of the regenerator column. It has been observed that there are certain problems which recur with this type of burner unit and which make further improvements highly desirable. On the one hand, the masonry walls of the burner unit must be erected from a great number of differently configurated shaped refractory bricks. Of course, the number of such burner units which is produced is relatively small, and the number of any particularly shaped brick required for the erection of such a burner unit is also small. This means that the erection of the masonry walls for the burner units from shaped bricks is expensive, because the bricks must be produced in small or very small quantities. This is true, whether the bricks are required for the erection of the masonry walls of a completely new burner unit, or for the repair of the walls of an existing burner unit. Moreover, due to the small quantities which are manufactured of each such shaped brick, it is frequently difficult to obtain a brick having the required configuration and/or dimensions.

Another drawback of these known burner units is the fact that if moist, insufficiently scrubbed top gas is present, flue dust will adhere to the walls bounding the gas supply conduits, and the flue dust can be removed only mechanically and with considerable difficulties. It must not, of course, be allowed to remain because of the dis advantageous influence it has on the operation of the unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide, in a regenerator, a novel burner unit which is not possessed of these disadvantages.

Still more particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide such a novel ceramic burner unit which is much less expensive to construct than those known from the prior art, and which can also be constructed more rapidly.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides, in a regenerator, in a combination comprising first wall means defining an upright regenerator column having a lower end portion, and an outlet unit installed in this lower end portion and provided with an annular series of apertures communicating with the regions above and below the unit. There is further provided a distributor unit at the lower end portion, being spaced from the outlet unit and comprising second wall means defining at least one distributor chamber each for a fuel-fluid and a combustion-supporting fluid and conduits extending from these chambers to respective ones of the aforementioned apertures. Ac-

cording to the invention the second wall means is at least in the region of these chambers composed atleast in part of a metallic jacket and a lining of tamped refractory material therein.

In other words, the novel burner unit according to the present invention no longer utilizes or requires shaped ceramic bricks.

A burner unit according to the present invention has a distributor unit whose metallic jacket can be fully or substantially fully prefabricated, so that it need merely be inserted into or located at the lower end portion of the regenerator column, rather than having to be assembled in situ. Once the jacket is in place, the lining is produced by filling hollows provided for this purpose with refractory material, which is thereupon tamped to form a cohesive lining replacing the prior-art masonry walls which are assembled from individual shaped refractory bricks. Evidently, the burner unit according to the present invention can be constructed more simply as well as more rapidly than the prior art, and it can be produced at less expense.

Depending upon the particular requirements of a given situation, in terms of temperature, mechanical and chemical stresses, the metallic jacket may be of sheet steel, of cast iron or the like and serves at the one hand as a protective cover for the tamped refractory lining, which it protects especially in a mechanical sense, and on the other hand it also serves as a mold or fonn permitting the production of the ramped refractory lining in situ while at the same time avoiding the necessity for a separate form which ,would have to be later removed. I

Once the distributor unit according to the present invention has been produced, a conventional masonry wallof refractory bricks is thenerected as before, from the second wall means of the distributor unit to the apertures of the outlet unit. The region of the installation is subject to very high temperatures so that the use of metallic material alone is not usually possible, and on the other hand only a relatively small numberof differently shaped refractor bricks is required for erecting these particular masonry walls, so that these walls are not especially expensive to produce.

It has been found that it is not absolutely necessary for the entire second wall means to be composed of a metallic jacket and a lining of tamped refractory material therein. Rather, at least in the region of the distributor chambers which is remote from the outlet unit the cooling effect of the incoming fluids is usually sufficiently noticeable for the permissible thermal stresses of metallic materials not to be exceeded. This makes it possible, according to a further concept of the invention, for the second wall means of the novel burner unit to be provided in this region only of metallic material, thereby limiting the provision of the lining of tamped refractory material to the other regions and resulting in further economies of burner construction.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments .when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the lower end portion of a regenerator column and an associated burner unit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a somewhat different burner according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies a sheet-metal wall of an upright regenerator column, only the lower end portion thereof being shown. The burner unit according to the present invention is located in this lower end portion and serves to provide the necessary heat.

Reference numeral 2 identifies an inlet conduit which discharges into an annular distributor chamber 3, supplying the same with a combustion-supporting fluid such as air. A combustible fuel-fluid is admitted via an inlet conduit 4 into a further distributor chamber 5 which in the illustrated embodiment is located within the confines of the chamber 3. From the chamber 3 the fluid passes via a plurality of channels 6 which are here arranged in form of an annulus to the outlet unit 1a which is installed in the interior of the regenerator column upwardly spaced from the chamber 3. The term outlet unit has been employed herein because it is the outlet through which the burner unit discharges into the column. A further plurality of channels 7 also arranged in form of an annulus communicate with the chamber 5. The channels 6 communicate with the apertures 8 of the unit 1a, and the channels 7 communicate with apertures 9 of the same unit, with the outlet ends of the channels 6 and 7 being so arranged as to alternate circumferentially of the unit la 1 so that the different fluids are discharged through circumferentially alternate ones of the aperture 8, 9.

A hollow column 10 extends through the center of the novel burner and serves a two-fold purpose, namely on the one hand to permit the entry of a worker for inspection or repair, and on the other hand to permit the admission of a start-up burner 11 which is required when the installation is to be first put into operation. The burner 11 has inlets l2 and 13 for combustible gas and air, respectively. If additional air is required during the start-up period, it can e supplied via the conduct 2. The interior of the hollow column 10 is lined with refractory material 16.

In accordance with the present invention. the burner unit comprises a distributor unit having a metallic jacket which in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 is lined with a lining 14 of tamped refractory material (it can be the same as that conventionally used for fire bricks), in the region of the chambers 3, 5 and of the juncture of the same with the channels 6 and 7. Above this region and up to the apertures 8 and 9 masonry walls of conventional shaped fire bricks 17 are erected.

The lining 14 is produced in situ, by placing untamped refractory material into the various hollow spaces surrounded by the jacket 15 and tamping this material in well-known manner to produce the lining 14. The fact that some of the masonry is erected from the fire bricks 17 is not a disadvantage because, as

pointed out earlier, for this particular masonry only a small number of different fire bricks 17 is required, and the total amount of such masonry is small enough not to cause a significant increase in the expense of erecting the burner unit.

Coming to the embodiment of FIG. 2, it will be seen that it rather resembles the embodiment of FIG. 1. In fact, essentially the embodiment of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1, in that the circumferential walls of the chambers 3, 5 are only metallic walls 18 which are not provided with the tamped refractory lining 14. In this embodiment only the top wall and the bottom wall of the jacket are provided with the tamped refractory material 14. The reason for providing the top wall with the lining 14, where the chambers 3 and 5 merge into the channels 6, 7 is that this region is located close to the outlet unit la where a high temperature prevails. The reason for providing the bottom wall with the lining 14 is because here a direct heat radiation will develop in operation of the burner so that the metallic material of the jacket must be protected by the lining 14. At the bottom wall there are also provided one or more (only one shown) inlets 19 which can be closed and which serve, when opened, for the admission of cleaning tools by means of which flue dust adhering to the inner walls bounding the chamber 5 can be readily removed. Finally, there are also provided one or more (one shown) manholes 20 which can be closed and which permit, when the burner has been shut down, the entry of a worker for inspection and/or repair purposes.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

-While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in burners for regenerators, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In a burner unit for use in a regenerator, a combination comprising flrst wall means defining an upright regenerator column having a lower end portion surrounding the burner unit; an outlet unit installed in said lower end portion so as to separate an upper region from a lower region of said lower end portion and provided with mutually alternating first and second annular series of apertures establishing communication between said upper and lower regions, said first wall means circumferentially surrounding a first chamber in said lower region; a distributor unit situated in said lower region of said lower portion spaced from said outlet unit and comprising second wall means including at least one double-walled jacket located within the confines of said first chamber and defining a second chamber in said lower region and a hollow space within said double-walled jacket; refractory material tamped in said hollow space so as to form a refractory lining; first and second conduit means extending between said first chamber and said first series of apertures and between said second chamber and said second series of apertures and connecting the former with the latter, respectively; and a masonry wall of refractory bricks extending between said double-walled jacket and said outlet unit and provided with alternating first and second conduits forming at least portions of said first and said second conduit means, respectively.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduits comprise a series of first conduits communicating with said first chamber and said first series of apertures and a plurality of second conduits communicating with said second chamber and with said second series of apertures, said conduits being provided in said masonry wall in form of an annulus; and wherein said first conduits alternate with said second conduits in the circumferential direction of said annulus so as to connect said first chamber and said second chamber with the respective ones of the alternating apertures of said first series and of said second series of apertures.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said conduits corresponds to the number of said apertures; and wherein each of the conduits connects a respective one of said chambers with a respective one of said apertures.

4. In a regenerator including wall means defining an upright regenerator column having a lower end portion, a burner unit including, in combination, an outlet unit located in said lower end portion of said wall means so as to separate an upper region from a lower region of said lower end portion of said wall means, and including an annular portion with mutually alternating first and second series of apertures establishing communication between said upper and lower regions; a first chamber located within said wall means in said lower region of the same; a second chamber located also within said lower region of said wall means; two sets of conduit means. one econnecting said first chamber with said first series of apertures, and the other connecting said second chamber with said second series of apertures of said outlet unit; and heat insulating material located within the space between said chambers and in the space between said first and second conduit means.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, and further comprising a double-walled jacket between said first and second chambers; and wherein part of said heat insulating material is accommodated within said jacket.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said double-walled jacket is located within the confines of said second chamber and defines said first chamber.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, and further comprising an additional singlewall'ed jacket enclosing said second chamber and spaced] inwardly from said wall means; and additional heat insulating material accommodated between said additional single-walled jacket and said wall means.

8. A combination as defined in claim 4; and further comprising an inlet for fuel fluid communicating with one of said chambers, and an inlet for combustionsupporting fluid communicating with the other of said chambers.

9. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said sets of conduit means are at least partially surrounded by said double-walled jacket. 

1. In a burner unit for use in a regenerator, a combination comprising first wall means defining an upright regenerator column having a lower end portion surrounding the burner unit; an outlet unit installed in said lower end portion so as to separate an upper region from a lower region of said lower end portion and provided with mutually alternating first and second annular series of apertures establishing communication between said upper and lower regions, said first wall means circumferentially surrounding a first chamber in said lower region; a distributor unit situated in said lower region of said lower portion spaced from said outlet unit and comprising second wall means including at least one double-walled jacket located within the confines of said first chamber and defining a second chamber in said lower region and a hollow space within said double-walled jacket; refractory material tamped in said hollow space so as to form a refractory lining; first and second conduit means extending between said first chamber and said first series of apertures and between said second chamber and said second series of apertures and connecting the former with the latter, respectively; and a masonry wall of refractory bricks extending between said doublewalled jacket and said outlet unit and provided with alternating first and second conduits forming at least portions of said first and said second conduit means, respectively.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduits comprise a series of first conduits communicating with said first chamber and said first series of apertures and a plurality of second conduits communicating with said second chamber and with said second series of apertures, said conduits being provided in said masonry wall in form of an annulus; and wherein said first conduits alternate with said second conduits in the circumferential direction of said annulus so as to connect said first chamber and said second chamber with the respective ones of the alternating apertures of said first series and of said second series of apertures.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of said conduits corresponds to the number of said apertures; and wherein each of the conduits connects a respective one of said chambers with a respective one of said apertures.
 4. In a regenerator including wall means defining an upright regenerator column having a lower end portion, a burner unit including, in combination, an outlet unit located in said lower end portion of said wall means so as to separate an upper region from a lower region of said lower end portion of said wall means, and including an annular portion with mutually alternating first and second series of apertures establishing communication between said upper and lower regions; a first chamber located within said wall means in said lower region of the same; a second chamber located also within said lower region of said wall means; two sets of conduit means, one econnecting said first chamber with said first series of apertures, and the other connecting said second chamber with said second series of apertures of said outlet unit; and heat insulating material located within the space between said chambers and in the space between said first and second conduit means.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4, and further comprising a double-walled jacket between said first and second chambers; and wherein part of said heat insulating material is accommodated within said jacket.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said double-walled jacket is located within the confines of said second chamber and defines said first chamber.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6, and further comprising an additional single-walled jacket enclosing said second chamber and spaced inwardly from said wall means; and additional heat insulating material accommodated between said additional single-walled jacket and said wall means.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 4; and further comprising an inlet for fuel fluid communicating with one of said chambers, and an inlet for combustion-supporting fluid communicating with the other of said chambers.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said sets of conduit means are at least partially surrounded by said double-walled jacket. 